Review: Our second installment of recommendations for the most common of meals—the sandwich! The list includes kosher restaurants, including one 100% vegan, and ethnic variations on sandwiches: French crepes and Mexican burritos/tacos.

Buzzy Gordon|Published: 12.17.18 , 20:31

In part two of our best sandwiches review,
what follows is a compilation of recommended places that either specialize in sandwiches, or whose menus (in English) feature dedicated sandwich sections. They are not ranked, but listed in alphabetical order. The price ranges refer to sandwiches only (although frequently they come with extras). This installment also includes kosher restaurants—including one that is 100% vegan—and ethnic variations on sandwiches: French crepes and Mexican burritos/tacos.

Sandwiches: Listed under the category heading Angus Decadent Sandwiches, these hero-type sandwiches were introduced recently as part of the restaurant’s revised menu, featuring lighter dishes and more vegan options. The five sandwiches cover all the meat bases: beef, lamb, veal sausage and ground beef.

A separate menu lists seven desserts, four of them chocolate-centric. The house specialty is the Angus kanaffeh; also recommended are the bread pudding with ice cream, and the toffee crunch, which combines chocolate fudge cake with salted caramel.

Betta Cafe

Ambiance: Located in a suburban shopping mall, Betta has a comfortable indoor section and a spacious, shady al fresco area. Parking can be a little difficult during the day, but there is plenty of parking in the evenings.

Beverages: There is a separate drinks menu with cocktails, a limited selection of wine and beer, soft drinks and hot drinks.

Sandwiches: The seven sandwiches listed on the main menu are served on a choice of French country bread (not baguette) or multi-grain bread. There one vegan sandwich, and one called a health sandwich. The list of main courses also includes beef patties (not hamburgers) on bread rolls.

Betta Cafe

Recommended are the along with ricotta salata with parsley pesto, black olives, lettuce and greens, and the aforementioned beef patties with spicy mayonnaise on ciabatta-style rolls.

Other menu items and desserts: The full menu reflects three meals a day, with the afternoon and evening menus comprising first courses, pastas, main courses and salads.

A separate menu lists a variety of desserts, including gluten-free options. A good choice is the carrot cake, even though it does not have the traditional cream cheese icing.

Price: NIS 42-72. There is a discount of 10 percent during business lunch hours, Sunday to Thursday, 12pm-4pm.

Brettone

Ambiance: A storefront on a busy street with a few seats indoors and al fresco seating on the sidewalk. All crepes are made to order in full view.

Beverages: A full bar for shots, wine, beer and cider in bottles and on tap, soft drinks, hot drinks

Crepes: The crepes are all made from scratch with gluten-free, vegan buckwheat batter. There are 14 savory crepes in four categories: vegan, cheese, fish and meat with cheese. Additional extra fillings can create dozens of combinations.

Sandwiches: The sandwich section, which takes center stage on the one-page menu, comprises four sandwiches—all original creations—served on hoagie rolls baked on the premises. The section titled Sausages lists three more sandwiches, and one of the appetizers is meatball sliders.

Hatch

Recommended are the Nashville Hot Chicken—fried chicken with spicy coleslaw—and the corned beef sandwich with a vegan cheese sauce and fried egg.

Other menu items and desserts: There are seven dishes itemized under the heading Openers, including the popular Buffalo Wings.

There is only one dessert, but it is unique: a chocolate chip cookie made with beef tallow and studded with potato chips.

Jacob’s Bakery

Ambiance: This bakery in a suburban industrial shopping district has an entire wall of windows, so it is nice and bright. The handmade breads contain no added sugar, oil, eggs or artificial preservatives. There are tastings of breads, dips, cake and cookies.

Beverages: Fresh squeezed juices, soft drinks, hot drinks

Sandwiches: There are 10 on the menu, made with a variety of freshly baked breads, plus one miniature breakfast sandwich. The English menu is in preparation; meanwhile, the manager speaks excellent English. All sandwiches are served with olives.

Jacob’s Bakery

Some of the sandwiches are pre-made and wrapped in plastic, while others are made to order. Recommended are the Brie with aioli, pears roasted in honey and spices, toasted walnuts, and sprouts on baguette, and the “workers’” sandwich: omelette, red pepper spread, tehina, tomato and cucumber.

Other menu items and desserts: In addition to full breakfasts served all day, there are quiches, salads and kids’ meals.

Naturally, there is a large selection of pastries, cakes, and cookies, both to eat there and packaged to take away.

Lilush

Ambiance: A neighborhood bistro on a quieter part of Frishman Street, just a block from Rabin Square. There are seating areas indoors and on the sidewalk, furnished with simple but substantial wooden furniture.

Sandwiches: The lengthy sandwich section, with no fewer than 18 entries, is titled Panini; the hot and cold panini all have Italian names. There are also several open-faced sandwiches, as well as three grilled sandwiches (tramenzini), in the Starters section. The panini are served with side salads dressed with a citrus vinaigrette.

Burritos: The Mexican versions of a sandwich are made with tortillas, flat bread from wheat or corn flour. The large tortilla wrap, or roll, is called a burrito, while the smaller iteration is a taco. The menu lists five kinds of burrito and four kinds of taco (the same fillings for both, including the one vegan option).

Mexicana Grill (Photo: Adam Shiraz)

Recommended are the barbacoa (slow-cooked beef) burrito and the grilled chicken soft taco. Burritos can be ordered with guacamole, cheddar cheese and sour cream included in the wrap.

Other menu items and desserts: There are two Specials, chicken salad and nachos; Quesadillas; and Mexican side dishes. There is also a children's meal.

There is only one dessert: churros (crullers) drizzled liberally with chocolate sauce.

Nununu - Dirty Dining

Ambiance: A brand-new fast food place with very limited seating, on backless stools at narrow counters. Loud dance music blares throughout the small space.

Beverages: Soft drinks, one brand of bottled beer (San Miguel)

Sandwiches: The entire menu consists of six grilled milk bun sandwiches, one each containing fillings representing meat, fish, chicken, seafood, sausage and vegetarian. (On weekends, there may be an extra daily special.) There can be nothing vegan on the menu, since there is milk in the bread.

Nununu - Dirty Dining (Photo: Gal Zehavi)

Recommended are the slow-cooked shredded beef, and the mac and cheese.

Other menu items and desserts: There are five side dishes, of the kind often served with hamburgers. The sweet potato fries are good, if overly seasoned, and the coleslaw pleasantly zesty.

There are only two desserts, both also sandwiches: cheesecake topped with a berry sauce, and hazelnut ice cream drizzled with chocolate sauce and crowned with a marshmallow.

Price: NIS 28-45

Nununu. Not kosher. Herzl St. 16, Tel Aviv. Tel. (03) 945-3111

Tal’s Bagels

Ambiance: A spacious, brightly lit eatery with plenty of al fresco seating on the wide sidewalk, it has the feel of a real New York deli, displaying lots of salads (all available to purchase by weight and take home). The bagels are boiled and baked fresh daily (never frozen) and contain no preservatives. The English menu is available upon request.

Beverages: Fresh squeezed juices, soft drinks, hot drinks.

Sandwiches: Choose from numerous deli meats, smoked fish, hard and soft domestic and imported cheeses, salads and/or spreads to put on nine varieties of bagels. There is also a breakfast sandwich served until 11am.

Tal’s Bagels

Recommended are the house sandwich (lox, cream cheese, omelette, lettuce and tomato), the homemade roast beef (made from entrecôte), and the smoked trout spread.

Other menu items and desserts: There is an extensive menu, comprising breakfasts, quiches, calzones, a salad bar (served from 10am to 4pm), discounted business lunches, and soups in winter.

Similarly, there is a tempting selection of baked goods for dessert: cookies, pastries, muffins and the restaurant’s signature mousse cakes and poppyseed loaf.

Price: NIS 28-44. (A dozen assorted plain bagels includes two free, for a total of NIS 55).